Wire-line actuated detonator device



Nov. l5, 1966 Filed April l l.. K. MOORE 3,285,171

WIRE-LINE ACTUATED DETONATOR DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 15, 1966 L, K, MOORE 3,285,171

WIRE-LINE ACTUATED DETONATOR DEVICE Nov. 15, 1966 K. MOORE 3,285,171

WIRE-LINE ACTUATED DETONATOR DEVICE Filed April 16, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 iSav- 3,285,171 WIRE-LINE ACTUATED DETONATOR DEVICE Lawrence K. Moore, 3716 Ingold St., Houston, Tex. Filed Apr. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 448,652 8 Claims. (Cl. 102--20) This invention relates to a new and improved detonator apparatus adapted to be actuated by a wire-line.

In my co-pending United States application, Serial No. 226,421, now issued as U.S. Patent No. 3,180,261, a novel detonator apparatus-is disclosed. Such apparatus is adapted to be manipulated in a well on a nonelectrical or slick wire-line.

The present invention provides a new and improved detonator apparatus having all of the advantages f the apparatus of said Patent No. 3,180,261, and in addition thereto, having other advantages and features as disclosed hereinafter.

An important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved detonator apparatus which is adapted to position an explosive charge or shot precisely at a collar or threaded joint in a well pipe where a detonation is desired, whereby the explosion is `confined to the thicker section at the collar or joint rather than also exposing the thinner wall of the pipe to the full force of the explosion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved detonator apparatus having safety means for positively disconnecting the electrical means from the explosive while the apparatus is in the well if such disconnection becomes necessary or desirable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved detonator apparatus having a iluid-restraint means for providing a time-delay prior to detonation of the explosive, such means being so constructed that all, or substantially all, of the fluid transferred through a restriction is disposed -below such restriction, and a flexible boot disposed above such restriction for receiving the fluid when transferred through the restriction is empty, or substantially empty of uid, during the Irunning of the apparatus into the well, whereby apparatus may be fired even if boot is ruptured or damaged.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved detonator apparatus wherein latch means are provided for latching the apparatus in a well pipe at a desired elevation either in proximity to or at a point remote from the explosive -to be detonated.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a new and improved detonator apparatus wherein the apparatus is adapted to be supported and manipulated in a well on a non-electrical wire-line, and wherein lthe lower portion of the apparatus is resiliently suspended on the upper portion thereof so that upon a latching of the lower portion in a collar, joint, or the like, the upper portion may be pulled upwardly relative thereto with a predetermined force, the extent of which may be adjusted.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specication and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating the apparatus of this invention disposed in a well pipe for detonation of an explosive;

FIG. 2A is a view, partly in elevation and partly in nited States Patent ICC section, illustrating the portion of the apparatus identied in FIG. 1 by the designation 2A and in particular illustrating the battery case forming a part of the electrical circuit of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2B is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, which is taken from FIG. 1 wherein the bracket is designated 2B and which illustrates in particular a safety apparatus or means for disconnecting the battery from the electrical circuit of the apparatus;

FIG. 2C is a view partly in elevation and partly in section Iwhich is the port-ion of the tool below that shown in FIG. 2B and which is specifically designated by the designation 2C in FIG. 1 to particularly illustrate the uid-restraint means of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2D is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating the portion of the apparatus below that illustrated in FIG. 2C and which is taken from tha-t part designated by the bracket 2D in FIG. l;

FIG. 2E is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the portion of the apparatus below that illustrated in FIGURE 2D and in particular that portion designated 2E in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on l-ine 3 3 of FIG. 2B to illustrate a particular feature of the safety apparatus of this device;

FIG. 4 is a View taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2E to further illustrate the latching means with the explosive means in the form of the invention illustrated in such gures;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2C, but illustrating the apparatus after the fluid restraint means has been actuated to close the electrical contacts for completing the electrical circuit within the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating a modication of the lower portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 2D and 2E; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detailed view showing a form of the restricted passage and valve used in the iluid restraint means of FIG. 2C.

In the drawings, the letter W designates a non-electrical wire-line which is adapted to lbe used for supporting and manipulating the detonator device lor apparatus F of this invention. As will be more fully explained hereinafter, the detonator apparatus F includes means for latching or anchoring the apparatus F in a collar or threaded joint I (FIG. l) so that an explosive may be detonated in the well pipe T for various purposes.

Considering the invention more in detail, a suitable set of wire-line actuated jars or a jarring device X is provided on the wire-line W above the detonator apparatus F (FIG. 1) for imparting jarring action to the apparatus F when desired. Starting at the upper end of the apparatus F as illustrated in FIG. 2A, it can be seen that such wire-line W is connected to a battery case or housing 10 through a suitable nut 11 which is threaded or otherwise connected to the housing 10. The housing 16 has a compartment 10a for receiving one or more batteries 12 which are resiliently mounted with a spring 14 or other suitable means. A sealed-off block 16 is disposed below the 'battery or batteries 12 and it has an annular seal ring or O-ring 17 therewith formed of rubber or other resilient material for preventing well iluid from entering the recess or compartment 10a in the vicinity of the batteries 12.. A split snap ring 18 formed of metal or other similar material is positioned below the block 16 to `removably retain same in place. The usual metal Contact button 12a of the lower battery 12 is in electrical contact with an electrical contact or viu're 19 while the upper end of the uppermost battery 12 is contacted by the metal spring 14 which is inengagernent with the'housing 10 to establish a Iground connection. The wire 19 is secured in the block 16 by a `threaded insert 20 and such wire 19 is also electrically connected to a male electrica] element 22 of a Joy plug 24, the construction of which is well known. An ciectrical conductor 25 extends downwardly from the Joy plug 24 in a hollow tube 26 which is connected to or forms a part of the Joy plug 24. Such tube 26 extends through a suitable opening, 27a in a threaded plug 27 at the bottom of the housing (FIG. 2A).

A safety section S is preferably provided in the apparatus F of this invention, which safety section S is illustrated in FIG. 2B. The section S includes a cover 28 having an opening 28a through the upper end thereof for` receiving the hollow tube 26 and the wire 25 disposed in the bore thereof. A shear .pin 29 extends laterally through the walls of the cover 28 and also through an elongated slot 26a in the tube 26. A stop ring 30 is welded or otherwise secured to the tube 26 vso that its lower surface 30a rests upon the shear pin 29 (FIG. 2B) and is Aurged into such position under normal circumstances by a spring 31.

A severing element 32 is secured in the cover 28 by a screw 32a or other suitable securing means. ment 32 is preferably annular and is provided with a bore 32h through which the lower end of the tube 26 extends. Another passage 32C is provided in the element 32 parallel to the central lbore 32h for receiving a loop 25a formed in the electrical wire 25 as such wire 25 passes outwardly throughan upper opening 262; and is returned to the pipe 26 through a lower openingr 26e. With such construction, as will be more evident hereinafter, upon a relative movement of the tube 26 with respect to the severing element 32, either in an upward or downward direction, the

wire 25 is severed or cut so as to provide a disconnection of the battery or batteries 12 from the rest of the electrical circuit in the apparatus. The cover 28 of the safety device S is connected'to a pipe 35 by means of a suitable adapter 36 (FIG. 2C). The pipe 35 preferably has one or more openings 35a in the wall thereof to provide access to a connector of Joy plug 24a at the lower end of the wire 25 where the flexible wire 25 is connected to a rigid electrical male wire or element 36. The electrical wire clement 36 extends downwardly within a rigid tube 37 to an upper electrical contact 38 which is threaded or otherwise mounted in an upper seal or piston 39 within the pipe 35, the purpose of which will be further described.

A sleeve 40 is disposed externally of the pipe 35 below a stop shoulder 35]: and such sleeve 40 is adapted to move longitudinally relative to the pipe 35, as will be more evident hereinafter. The rigid support member 37 is connected to the sleeve 40 by means of retaining bolts or screws 41 which enter a head or retaining block 42 secured on the pipe 0r rigid element 37. Such screws or -bolts 41 extend through appropriate longitudinal slots 35e in the pipe 35.

The lower end of the pipe 35 has an adapter section 42 threaded therein to form a lower closure for a chamber 43 within the pipe 35. A lower electrical contact 44 is supported within the closure 42 by a retaining nut 45 having an O-ring seal 46 formed of rubber or other sealing material to retain a fluid such as oil 43a within the chamber 43. The electrical contact 44 has an electrical wire 47 extending downwardly therefrom, as will be more fully described.

The upper piston 39 forming the upper end of the chamber 43 is provided with a restricted passage, which in the preferred form of the invention includes a control valve 50 (FIGS. 2C and 7). The valve 50 is provided with a restricted passage `50a through which the fluids 43a in the chamber 43 is forced when the .lower electrical contact is moved upwardly with respect to the upper electrical contact 38. The valve 50 is normally maintained in an upper seated position as shown in FIG. 7 by a spring 51, although such spring 51 may be omitted in some instances. The spring 51 is retained within a counterbore 52a of a Such elef bore or passage 52 within the closure 39 by means of a nut 39a. yWhen the valve 50 is in the -upper position as shown in FIG. 7, uid flowing upwardly through the valve must pass through the passage 50a, but when liuid is returned downwardly through the bore or passage 52, the valve 50 is forced downwardly to compress the spring 51 and allow the fluid to flow at a. much higher rate around the valve 50 and outwardly through the opening 39b.

A llexible boot 55 which is formed of rubber or yany other suitable elastic flexible material is secured by any suitable means to the upper closure 39 and to the connector 42. As illustrated, the ends of the rubber boot 55 are secured by wire wrappings 55a and 55h. During the running in of the tool or apparatus F of this invention, the boot or sleeve 55 is empty, or substantially empty, yof all oil or other liquid, but rwhen the electrical contacts 44 and 38 are moved towards each other, the oil 43a, or other uid is forced into the boot 55 and ultimately expands same to a position such as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings and as ywill be more evident hereinafter.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2D, the sleeve 40 has a perforated extension 56 with perforations or openings 56a formed therethrough. Such extension 56 surrounds the adapter 42 land also a'lower extension 57 f below the adapter 42 which is threaded or otherwise suitably connected thereto. The electrical wire 47 from the lower electrical contact 44 extends throughy the bore of the adapter 42 and` the bore of the lower extension .57 and is preferably provided with slack as illustrated in FIG. 2D Within the housing or extension 56. A -spring 58 is disposed within the extension 56 and surrounds the extension 57, with the upper end` of the spring 58 in engagement with the shoulder or lower end 40a of the sleeve 40 lwhile the lower end of the spring 58 is in engagement with f -a washery or washers 58a disposed on an annular shoulder 57a on the lower extension 57. Such spring 58 maintains the electrical contacts 38 and 48 apart during the running f in of the tool so that such spring 5S is of sufcient strength to support the pipe 40 and the parts connected thereto. The compression of the spring 58 may be adjusted or initially set, by using the washer 58a or any other suitable adjusting means so that a minimum force is required for moving the contacts 38 and 44 towards each other in addition to the restraint provided by the forcing of the uid 43a through the restriction 50a as previously explained. The washer 58a m-ay be omitted, or a `greater number of such washers 58a may be employed, -so as to adjust the strength of the spring 58 for suspending various amounts of weight connected to the sleeve 40.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2D and 2E, a rod 60 o-f any desired length is connected to the lower end of the perforated sleeve 56 by an adapter 61 or any other suitable means. The wire 47 which is shown in the slack condition within the perforated sleeve 56 extends through the bore 61 of the adapter 61 and through an inclined opening a at the upper end of the rod 60 so that the wire 47 is adapted to extend downwardly to an electrical detonating cap 65 of conventional construction.

The electrical detonating cap 65 is preferably connected to the explosive such as a group of primacords which are banded together by a tape or other band 66. The primacords 67 are detonated or red when the detonating cap is exploded upon the closing of the electrical circuit of the apparatus when the electrical contacts 38 and 44 are brought into engagement, as will be more evident hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 2E, the rod 60 has an annular latching body i69 which has a plurality of resilient latching fingers secured there-to by set screws 70a or any other suitable securing means. The number of such latching fingers or elements 70 may be varied, 'but as illustrated in FIGS. 2E and 4, `fou-r of such fingers 70 are provided on the latching body or element 69. The latching body 69 is |preferably provided with longitudinal grooves 69a which receive the primacord extending downwardly from the band 66 for such length as may be desired. As best seen in FlG. 1, the latch fingers 70 are .adapted to enga-ge within a collar or joint and thus secu-re the lower end of the apparatus F with the explosive v67 within such collar or joint I. Such feature is particularly important since it precisely locates the explosive at the joint which is to be released when the explosion occ-urs. The majority of the explosion takes place within the thicker wall section provided by the joint J rather than the thinner wall of the well pipe T so that damage to the pipe as 1a result of the explosion is reduced by reason of the present const-ruction. It should also be noted that the element 69 may be moved upwardly and downwardly on the rod 60 and is held in position by one or more retaining screws 69h (FIG. l) which extend through `and :frictiona-lly engage or bite into the rod 60. Thus, by providing an adequate length of the wire 47, the location of the latching finger 7 0 may be moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to the body of the apparatus -F which includes the sleeve 40 and the pipe 35 so that when heavier or larger quantities of explosives .are employed, they can be further spaced from such body and damage to the relatively delicate fluid-restraint means and other parts in the a-pparat-us F a-re thus avoided.

An alternate :form of the apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the apparatus is identical to that i-llustrated in FIGS. 1-5 down to the adapter 61. In FIG. 6, the latch fingers 170 are employed instead of the latch fingers 70 of FIGS. 2E and 4. The latch fingers 170 are mounted directly at the -lower end of the sleeve 40 by means of the sleeve extension 56, the adapter 61 and the lower connector 80 which is threaded into the adapter 61. The latch fingers 170 are connected to the connector by set screws 170a lor any other suitable securing means. Thus, in the `form shown in FIG. 6, the rod 60 is eliminated, and instead, the lower end of the pipe extension 57 has a bail or loop 57b formed thereon for securing a cable 82 lthereto wit-h an eye 82a or other suitable lsecuring means. The electrical wire 47 is electrically joined to the cable 82. by a short connector wire `83 and an electrical junction 83a. Thus, the electrical current Vis carried downwardly through the cable 82 to a perforator P of conventional construction, or any other explosive means so disposed.

In the operation or use of the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. l-5 and 7, the apparatus is `lowered into the well pipe T, with the parts in the positions illustrated in FIGS. l-4, inclusive. When the latching fingers 7i) have reached the collar or joint I in which they are to be latched, the wire-line W is raised upward-ly to seat the fingers 70 in the collar or joint I as shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, a continued upward pull on the wire-line W `causes the pipe 35 and the parts connected thereto, including the lower electrical contacts 44 to move upwardly relative to the outer sleeve 40 and the parts connected thereto including the upper electrical .contact 38. A time delay and a iiuidrestraint is provided by reason of the fiuid 43a bein-g forced through the restriction 50a into the flexible boot 55 from the chamber 43. The extent of such resistance of course depends upon the size of the opening 50a in the valve 51), as previously pointed out. It is to be observed that the upward pull on the wire-line W is transmitted through the battery housing or case 10 and the rigid -tube 26 .to the block 30 and thus to the spring 31 which transmits an upward force to the safety cover 28. Since the cover 28 is connected to the pipe 35, it can thus be seen that the pull on the wire W is transmitted to the pipe 35. The housing 40 is prevented from moving upwardly by reason of the latched fingers 70 within the groove lor recess of the joint or collar I. The spring 31 is pre-compressed at the time of assembly .so that it is held under such compression with the pin 29. The amount of such pre-compression may be varied at the time of asmbly, and normally it is pre-compressed to such an extent that the force required to compress it further exceeds the force required to compress the spring 58. For example, if the spring 458 may .be compressed with eighty pounds of pull, the .spring 31 is pre-compressed so that it cannot be further compressed until about one-hundred pounds of pull is exerted thereon. Therefore, normally there is no compression of the spring 31 and thus no relative movement of the tube 26 and the housing or cover 28. Thus, under normal circumstances, as a steady pull is applied to the wire-line W, the electrica-l contact 44 is moved upwardly with respect to the electrical `contact 38, forcing the uid 43a into the lflexible boot 55 to expand same as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. When the electrical contact is made between the contacts 38 and 44 as shown in FIG. 5, the electrical circuit is completed from the battery or batteries 12 to the explosive cap 65 so that the cap is fired or detonated to thereby explode the explosive cord 67.

Since there `is a strain on the fingers 70 due to t-he upward :pull on the wire-line W at the time the explosive is detonated, and the fingers 70 are exib'le enough to bend downwardly when a sufficient :pull is exerted thereon, the fingers 70 are automatically bent down and released from the collar or joint J so that the entire apparatus F may move upwardly in the well pipe T to the extent desired.

If, prior ito firing the explosive, the apparatus F becornes caught or stopped while moving downwardly in the pipe T, the safety -means S may be actuated to sever the wire 25 at the lloop 25a to thereby disconnect the battery or batteries 12 -f-rom the explosive cap 65 and the explosive 67. Such Isevering of the wire 25 is accomplished :by jerking on the wirealine W to -actuate the -wire line jars X, which exerts a sufficient force downwardly with the block 30 on the shear pin 29 to sever the pin 29 and thereafter permit a relative movement of the rod or tube 26 downwardly with respect to the cover 28. Since the severing block 32 is connected to the cover 28, the wire loop 25 Vis severed as the tube 26 moves downwardly th-rough the opening 32b. Thereafter, the tool may be manipulated to jar the tool or otherwise attempt to free it Ifrom its stuck posi-tion without any danger of accidentally firing the explosive.

In the event the tool is caught o-r otherwise is prevented from moving `upwardly before it has fired, the wire 25 may also :be severed Iby a strong upward jerking action on the wire-line W to compress the spring 31 before 4the electrical contacts 38 and 44 are brought into contact with each other. The strong upward jerking action on Ithe wire-li-ne W thus results in a yrelative movement of the tube 26 with respect to the cover 28 so that again, the loop 25 is subjected -to a cutting action as the tube 26 moves through the bore 32b of the severing block 32.

It should be noted that the boot 55 is substantially collapsed or empty going into the :hole or pipe T so that .should the :boot 55 be ruptured or otherwise damaged so that is ycannot hold the iiuid 43a, the tool may nevertheless be operated. Thus, the fluid 43a is confined entirely within the solid pipe 35 and is protected for use when needed. Of course, if the diaphragm or boot 55 is capable of holding the fluid 43a when it is transferred thereto as illustrated in FIG. 5, it is desirable since the fluid 43a :may again be used by returning same downwardly through the valve 50 to the chamber 43.

The operation or use of the modified Iform of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 is identical with that heretofore Idescribed in connection with FIGS. 1-5 and 7, except that the .perforator P is suspended below the latch finge-rs 171i a predetermined distance, depending upon the length of the cable 82. It should also be noted that the relatively heavy perforator P or similar apparatus is suspended so that it does no-t exert any ,pull or force on the firing mechanism, but instead such weight of the perforator P and the line 82 therewith is all carried by the wireline W.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory the-reof and v-arious changes in the size, shape and materials, as welll as in the details of the illustrated construction, may .be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing Ifrom the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A detonator apparatus adapted to be used in a well,

comprising:

(a) a body having a pipe and a sleeve longitudinally movable relative to eachother,

(b) a first electrical contact on said pipe,

(c) a second electrical contact on said sleeve,

(d) a battery case having a battery therein and a rst electrical wire leading therefrom,

(e) means connecting said rst electrical wire to one of said electrical contacts,

(f) an explosive suspended from said body,

(g) a second electrical wire connecting the other of said electrical contacts with said explosive so that electricity is supplied from the battery to the explosive upon the engagement of the contacts and (h) means for severing said iirst electrical wire while the apparatus is in a well to cut olf electricity from the battery to the explosive so as to avoid any subsequent ring of the explosive until the severed Wire has been re-connected.

2. A detonator apparatus adapted to be used in a well,

comprising:

(a) a 4body having a pipe and a sleeve longitudinally movable relative to each other,

(b) a rst electrical contact on said pipe,

(c) a second electrical contact on said sleeve,

(d) an electrical circuit having electrical means connected to said contacts for completing `an electrical circuit upon engagement of said contacts,

(e) a wire-line secured to said pipe and unreleasable therefrom in the well for applying an upward pull thereon to move said contacts into engagement,

(f) means for anchoring said sleeve in the bore of a well pipe to prevent upward movement thereof while said pipe is moving upwardly relative thereto,

(g) fluid restraint means for restraining the longitudinal movement of said sleeve and pipe and their contacts towards each other to provide a time delay before the contacts engage each other,

(h) an explosive means connected in the electrical Ycircuit with said electrical means for detonation upon the engagement of the electrical contacts with each other,

(i) said electrical circuit including a battery, and

(j) means connected to said body for disconnecting the battery from the rest of the electrical circuit whereby the apparatus may be manipulated thereafter without danger of detonating lthe explosive.

3. A detonator apparatus adapted to be used in a well,

comprising:

(a) a body having a pipe and a sleeve longitudinally movable relative to each other,

(b) a Iirst electrical contact on said pipe,

(c) a second electrical contact on said sleeve,

(d) an electrical circuit having electrical means connected to said contacts for completing an electrical circuit upon engagement of said contacts,

(e) a wire-line secured to said pipe and unreleasable therefrom in the well for applying an upward pull thereon to move said contacts into engagement,

(f) means for anchoring said sleeve in the bore of a well pipe to prevent upward movement thereof while said pipe is moving upwardly relative thereto,

(g) fluid restraint means for restraining the longitudinal movement of said sleeve and pipe and their contacts towards each other to provide a time delay before the contacts engage each other,

(h) an explosive means connected in the electrical circuit with said electrical means for detonation upon the engagement of the electrical contacts with each other,

(i) said electrical circuit including a battery, a rst electrical wire leading therefrom to one of the electrical contacts, and a second electrical wire leading to the other electrical contact, and

(j) safety means connected to said body and operable upon a manipulation of the wire-line for severing one of said electrical wires to thereby disconnect the battery from the explosive for preventing subsequent tiring of the explosive while manipulating the apparatus in the well.

4. A time delay apparatus for use in a well, comprising:

(a) a -body with a pipe and a sleeve longitudinally movable relative to each other,

(b) a wire-line secured to said pipe for applying an upward pull thereon to obtain relative longitudinal movement between said pipe and said sleeve,

(c) a lower seal means secured in said pipe for movement therewith to close off said pipe to form the lower end of a fluid chamber,

(d) an upper seal means secured to said sleeve for movement therewith relative to said pipe,

(e) said upper seal means having a restricted passage extending substantially longitudinally therethrough for providing a restraint for the How of uid from said chamber upwardly through said restricted passage.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, including:

(a) an explosive means suspended below said pipe and said sleeve, and

(b) latch means connected to said explosive means for directly anchoring said explosive means in a collar or the like to assure the specic location of the explosive means.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, including:

(a) a support rod connected to the lower end of said sleeve,

(b) an explosive means suspended below said sleeve on said support rod, and

(c) a latch assembly mounted on said support rod below said sleeve and adjacent said explosive means for directly anchoring said explosive means in a collar or the like to assure the specific location of the explosive means.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, including:

(a) resilient means disposed externally of said uid `chamber and engageable with said pipe and said sleeve for suspending the sleeve resiliently on the pipe.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, including:

(a) a rst electrical contact on said pipe,

(b) a second electrical contact on said sleeve,

(c) ,resilient means engageable with said pipe and said sleeve for suspending the sleeve resiliently on the pipe and for maintaining said electrical contacts a predetermined distance apart until a relative longitudinal movement between the pipe and the sleeve is caused by pulling upwardly on the wire-line, and

(d) an explosive means suspended with said sleeve by said resilient means and connected in an electrical circuit with said electrical contacts for detonation upon the engagement of the electrical contacts with each other.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. V. R. PENDEGRASS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DETONATOR APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE USED IN A WELL, COMPRISING: (A) BODY HAVING A PIPE AND A SLEEVE LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, (B) A FIRST ELECTRICAL CONTACT ON SAID PIPE, (C) A SECOND ELECTRICAL CONTACT ON SAID SLEEVE, (D) A BATTERY CASE HAVING A BATTERY THEREIN AND A FIRST ELECTRICAL WIRE LEADING THEREFROM, (E) MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST ELECTRICAL WIRE TO ONE OF SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACTS, (F) AN EXPLOSIVE SUSPENDED FROM SAID BODY, (G) A SECOND ELECTRICAL WIRE EXTENDING THE OTHER OF SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITH SAID EXPLOSIVE SO THAT ELECTRICITY IS SUPPLIED FROM THE BATTERY TO THE EXPLOSIVE UPON THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE CONTACTS AND (H) MEANS FOR SEVERING SAID FIRST ELECTRICAL WIRE WHILE THE APPARATUS IS IN A WELL TO CUT OFF ELECTRICITY FROM THE BATTERY TO THE EXPLOSIVE SO AS TO AVOID ANY SUBSEQUENT FIRING OF THE EXPLOSIVE UNTIL THE SEVERED WIRE HAS BEEN RE-CONNECTED. 